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Gonzalez powerful in Astros' draw with Cubs

3/29/13: Marwin Gonzalez drives a three-run home run to right field to give the Astros a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the second inning

By Gene Duffey
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Special to MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- Dioner Navarro belted his fifth homer of the spring, while Darwin Barney delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth for the Cubs, but the Astros came back to forge a 6-6 tie in Friday night's exhibition contest at Minute Maid Park.

Houston's Trevor Crowe doubled to lead off the eighth, advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch by Cubs reliever Michael Bowden to tie it.

The Astros had runners on first and third in the ninth against Shawn Camp, but back-to-back strikeouts by Jonathan Singleton and J.D. Martinez ended the inning.

Alfonso Soriano grounded into an inning-ending double play in the 10th as the Cubs threatened with runners on first and second.

Marwin Gonzalez smacked a three-run homer and Chris Carter went 2-for-2 with two RBIs for the Astros.

Cubs starter Edwin Jackson struck out nine in only four innings, but gave up five runs in the first two innings, including the homer to Gonzalez, Houston's No. 9 hitter. Jackson also walked one and hit a batter.

The good news for the Astros is that they may have found their much-needed middle-of-the-order hitter in Carter, obtained in a trade with Oakland. He delivered two doubles, drove in two runs and also walked in three plate appearances. Carter has 15 RBIs this spring.

The teams will meet again in their final exhibition game on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. CT.

While Astros manager Bo Porter played his starters in only half of the game on Friday, Cubs skipper Dale Sveum went most of the way with many of his regulars.

The Cubs scored three runs in the top of the first off of Astros starter Alex White, expected to be the long man out of the Houston bullpen. David DeJesus and Starlin Castro opened with singles and, after a walk to Anthony Rizzo, Soriano drove in one with a sacrifice fly. Welington Castillo drove in two more with a double.

The Astros answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on Carter's two-run double.

Navarro gave the Cubs a 4-2 lead in the second with a line shot into the seats in left field off left-hander Kevin Chapman.

The Astros took the lead at 5-4 in the second on the homer by Gonzalez, his second of the spring. After the Gonzalez homer, Jackson struck out the side.

Soriano singled in Castro in the fifth inning to tie the game and Luis Valbuena tripled in the sixth, scoring on Barney's single for a 6-5 Cubs lead.

The only meetings in the regular season between the Cubs and Astros will be a three-game series in June at Wrigley Field.

Up next for the Astros: The Astros will take a good look at most of their reserves in Saturday afternoon's final spring game against the Cubs at 1:05 p.m. CT at Minute Maid Park. Right-handed newcomer Brad Peacock, who is 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA this spring, will start for Houston. Peacock was obtained in the offseason from Oakland in the Jed Lowrie trade. Mike Foltynewicz, ranked as the Astros' No. 7 prospect by MLB.com, is also slated to see action. Houston opens the regular season on Sunday night at home against the Texas Rangers. Right-hander Bud Norris will pitch the opener for the Astros.

Gene Duffey is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.